What we think

Swayed by that grim tally, the National Transportation Safety Board strongly believes Florida can do more to improve pediatric passenger safety. For one thing, the NTSB believes that having kids climb into booster seats up to age 8 would increase their chances of surviving a crash more than adult seat belts alone.

On one hand, the state rightly requires kids 3 and younger be secured in a child-safety seat. Parents cannot drive away from the hospital with their new bundles of joy without one. Yet, once the child turns 4, the state says either a safety seat or just a seat belt is fine.

NTSB is urging Florida -- one of three states without a booster-seat law -- to raise its standards.

Because requiring their use with slightly older kids is so reasonable, we're not shocked the Legislature -- which often demonstrates blockheadedness when it comes to transportation-safety issues -- would need a shove to do the right thing. After all:

*Florida remains one of the few states that allow bikers to burn up the road on motorcycles capable of 160 mph without carrying a stitch of crash insurance.

*Likewise, the state gives its blessing to bikers who ride without helmets, save for this caveat: Motorcyclists 21 or older who won't wear them must carry at least $10,000 in medical insurance. Ten thousand bucks to cover a head injury? Give us a break.

*Legislators are loath to green light the use of red-light cameras, which save lives and punish chronic red-light runners.

*Lawmakers long dragged their feet before finally this year rolling out a law that lets police stop and ticket motorists they observe driving without seat belts.

*And, with the latest dangerous rage, texting and driving, Florida -- unlike 24 states that have banned texting for novice drivers, bus drivers, or any drivers -- remains stuck in park when it comes to passing laws to curb talking or texting while driving.

Sadly, without a booster-seat law on the books, it's kids who'll lose. Adult restraints often don't fit kids correctly, and children also are apt to wear them improperly.

The consequences? Research shows a child's risk of serious abdominal injury jumps by 3.5 times while the risk of head trauma rises by four or five times. Death is 28 percent more likely for children who aren't strapped into booster seats in a crash.

Conversely, children in booster seats are 59 percent less likely to sustain injuries.

Republican Sen. Thad Altman of Melbourne gets it. Last year, for the second time, he sponsored legislation that would require children ages 4 to 7 to use booster seats while passengers. But the Legislature -- again -- recklessly slammed the brakes on the life-saving reform.